THE BOOK OF ACTS – Chapter 14
Acceptance and Opposition
Paul, Barnabas Simeon, Lucius, and Manaen had left the region of Pisidian Antioch and continue their ministry journey to Iconium in Galatia Iconium, located in ancient Galatia which is present-day Konya in Turkey. It was a significant city during the time of Paul the Apostle and is situated in the central part of the country.
As a note of important interest for us today, is that the Holy Spirit empowered each of these men with specific spiritual gifts with the purpose of building up the Body of Christ which is The Church and are needed to fulfill the mission of the Church. Spiritual Gifts enable Christians to serve the Lord and His Church.
Paul exemplified several spiritual gifts such as prophecy, teaching, preaching, encouragement, healing, and leadership. But his dominant gift, undoubtedly was that of an Apostle.
This is also the pattern and the example for each Christian today. Each of us have been gifted and empowered by the Holy Spirit with certain Spiritual Gifts enabling us, as Christians, to serve the Lord and His Church. If you are not employing your Spiritual Gift(s), be aware that you are not doing what Jesus has commanded of you and all of us will answer to Him on that final day. Please, as you read on, make notes and call upon God to give you insight, courage and the impetus to move forward in The Mission.
Acceptance and Opposition
Acts 14:1, In Iconium they entered the synagogue of the Jews together, and spoke in such a way that a large number of people believed, both of Jews and of Greeks. Verse 2. But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the minds of the Gentiles and embittered them against the brothers. 3. Therefore they spent a long time there speaking boldly with reliance upon the Lord, who was testifying to the word of His grace, granting that signs and wonders be performed by their hands.
Verse 4. But the people of the city were divided; and some sided with the Jews, while others, with the apostles. 5. And when an attempt was made by both the Gentiles and the Jews with their rulers, to treat them abusively and to stone them, verse 6, they became aware of it and fled to the cities of Lycaonia, Lystra and Derbe, and the surrounding region; verse 7, and there they continued to preach the gospel.
(Commentary Break): Please take note of the process. (1). Paul, Barnabas, Simeon, Lucius and Manaen enter the Synagogue of the Jews and Gentiles were present also – and a large number of them believed. (2). But the unbelieving Jews turned the Gentiles against Paul and the rest. (3). So Paul and the rest spent a long time there speaking boldly with reliance upon the Lord, who was testifying to the word of His grace, granting that signs and wonders be performed by their hands – using, employing the Spiritual Gifts they had been given. (4). But, the people were divided, as is always the case. Some with the Jews and others with the apostles. (5). The crowds became abusive, so the apostles fled to the cities of Lycaonia, Lystra and Derbe, and the surrounding region. (6). And they continued to preach the Gospel.
Very-little-to-nothing has changed since that day concerning our witnessing and proclaiming the Gospel and how that is to be accomplished. I would encourage all of us to refrain from pandering to the lost and putting on expansive and expensive church stage productions, expecting people to come to be entertained, mistaking the resulting endorphins and adrenalin for the movement of the Holy Spirit and follow the examples of these men: speaking boldly with reliance upon the Lord, who was testifying to the word of His grace, granting that signs and wonders be performed by your hands! (End Commentary Break).
Verse 8. In Lystra a man was sitting whose feet were incapacitated. He had been disabled from his mother’s womb, and had never walked. 9. This man was listening to Paul as he spoke. Paul looked at him intently and saw that he had faith to be made well, verse 10, and he said with a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet!” And the man leaped up and began to walk. 11. When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they raised their voice, saying in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have become like men and have come down to us!” Now there were prophets and teachers at Antioch, in the church that was there: Barnabas (son of prophecy), Simeon (hearing) who was called Niger (black, a Christian), Lucius (illuminated, a Christian) of Cyrene, Manaen (a Christian) who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 12. And they began calling Barnabas, Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, since he was the chief speaker. Now there were prophets and teachers at Antioch, in the church that was there: Barnabas (son of prophecy), Simeon (hearing) who was called Niger (black, a Christian), Lucius (illuminated, a Christian) of Cyrene, Manaen (a Christian) who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 13. Moreover, the priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, and wanted to offer sacrifice with the crowds. Now there were prophets and teachers at Antioch, in the church that was there: Barnabas (son of prophecy), Simeon (hearing) who was called Niger (black, a Christian), Lucius (illuminated, a Christian) of Cyrene, Manaen (a Christian) who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 14. But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard about it, they tore their robes and rushed out into the crowd, crying out verse 15, and saying, “Men, why are you doing these things? We are also men, of the same nature as you, preaching the gospel to you, to turn from these useless things to a living God, who MADE THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH AND THE SEA, AND EVERYTHING THAT IS IN THEM. 16. In past generations He permitted all the nations to go their own ways; verse 17, yet He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good and gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.” Verse 18. And even by saying these things, only with difficulty did they restrain the crowds from offering sacrifices to them.
(Commentary Break): What we see here is that even when God moves it can be the nature of the unregenerate mind to attribute the works of God to their own pre-existing beliefs; whether it be false religions and false gods or even science and medicine. These things can become idols when they remove, are substituted for or are comingled with God. The Bible says our God is a jealous, (“quanna’” from the Hebrew language, meaning ardent, protective zeal Yahweh displays toward His covenant people and His own honor. Rather than suggesting petty envy, it portrays the intensity with which God safeguards, the exclusivity of the relationship He established through covenant.) Just like Paul and the other apostles, we are to deny these things and clearly proclaim that God is the only One due and worthy of such Glory – unlike so many past and present preachers, who take credit for themselves. (End Commentary Break).
Verse 19. But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having won over the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, thinking that he was dead. Verse 20. But while the disciples stood around him, he got up and entered the city. The next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe. Verse 21. And after they had preached the gospel to that city and had made a good number of disciples, they returned to Lystra, to Iconium, and to Antioch, verse 22, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, “It is through many tribulations that we must enter the kingdom of God.” Verse 23. When they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they entrusted them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
(Commentary Break): And, they thought they had killed Paul. But he got up and entered the city. (Dwell on that for a minute). And the Gospel we witness to others and the one we preach today is presented as a ‘feel good’, “I’m okay, you’re okay”, ‘God loves you so much, he understands your weaknesses’ tripe. Listen: They stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, thinking that he was dead. But while the disciples stood around him, he got up and entered the city, preached the Gospel and made a good number of disciples. THIS IS NOT A STORY TO MARVEL AT, AND IT IS NOT A BID TO GIVE PAUL CREDIT OR PRAISE. THIS IS WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A FOLLOWER AND A DISCIPLE OF JESUS. After every apparent defeat, disappointment or loss, we get up and go again!
Additionally, and even after a severe beating, Paul goes on to strengthen the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, “It is through many tribulations that we must enter the kingdom of God.” IT IS THROUGH MANY TRIBULATIONS THAT WE MUST ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD. Honestly, folks. There will be blessings, times of joy and there will be challenges. But, as Paul put it, “I consider the sufferings of this present time not to be worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us”. All of these things are working together for our good – for those of us who love God and are called according to His purpose!
And finally, the Apostles appointed Elders for them in every church – not deacons, not church ‘leaders’, no special interests – Elders, (Also known as Presbyters, Overseers or Administrators) who are tasked with the proper administration of the Church. These men are held to the same standard as a pastor or shepherd of God’s Church and often function interchangeably in the same capacity as the pastor.
(Pastor: This term derives from a Greek word for “shepherd”. Pastoral Gifts include integrity and compassion. The term “poimén” primarily refers to a shepherd, one who tends, leads, and cares for a flock of sheep. In the New Testament, it is used both literally and metaphorically. Literally, it describes those who care for sheep, while metaphorically, it refers to leaders or pastors who guide and nurture a community of believers, akin to a shepherd with his flock. The image of a shepherd was deeply embedded in the cultural and religious consciousness of the Israelites, often symbolizing leadership, provision, and protection. This imagery is prevalent throughout the Bible, where God is depicted as the ultimate Shepherd of His people, and leaders are often called to emulate this role. The tasks of a Near Eastern shepherd were to watch for enemies trying to attack the sheep to defend the sheep from attackers to heal the wounded and sick sheep to find and save lost or trapped sheep to love them, sharing their lives and so earning their trust.)
Correctly called, this is the spiritual gift of Administration is also called the gift of governing, the Greek word translated “governments” is “kubernesis”, the verb form of which means “to steer” or “to be a helmsman”. This gift then refers to the God-given capacity to oversee or guide the Church through storms and difficult seas. NOTE: Many versions of the Bible and many theologians and bible teachers say the word “leader” or “leadership” is a Spiritual gift. That is incorrect and a gross misunderstanding of the correct word and intention of the word which is presbyter or “overseer”. Jesus clearly taught, in Matthew 23:8-12 “But as for you, do not be called Rabbi (teacher); for only One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers and sisters. And do not call anyone on earth your father; for only One is your Father, He who is in heaven. And do not be called leaders; for only One is your Leader, that is, Christ. But the greatest of you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled, and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.”
This is important because “Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain; unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.” This verse from Psalm 127 emphasizes the importance of divine guidance and support in all human endeavors, but especially in the administration of His Church. (Too many churches have been modeled after the schemes of men, with corporate identities, manmade and man-identified corporate structures, overlaid with a dose of religious language and a prayer here and there as an attempt to validate a house built on sand. And the results are apparent – “they deny the power thereof”, referring to those who may appear to be religious or godly but do not truly embrace or exhibit the transformative power of faith in their lives. This concept is often highlighted in the context of warning against hypocrisy and superficial expressions of faith.). (End Commentary Break).
Verse 24. They passed through Pisidia and came into Pamphylia. Verse 25. When they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia. Verse 26. From there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been entrusted to the grace of God for the work that they had accomplished. Verse 27. When they had arrived and gathered the church together, they began to report all the things that God had done with them and how He had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. Verse 28. And they spent a long time with the disciples. (End of Chapter 14).
These are the struggles of establishing the Church which is still the task at hand for all believers. Begun by the Lord Jesus Christ at the behest of God the Father and empowered and guided by the Holy Spirit, the building of His Church is still underway.
The Church, over the centuries since Jesus walked on the earth, has rarely seen times of true peace. It has seen growth despite opposition and persecution; it has seen turmoil and fractures within despite times of peace and exponential growth; it has seen attacks within and without accompanied by the shame and failure of its leaders. Still, The Church is the sanctuary for the called, the governing body of the elect and the battlefront of saints of God. (see “I Will Build My Church”).
What has followed its establishment has been an intensifying spiritual war which has been marked by the breaking of the tribulation seals as Daniel 12:10 prophesied, “many will be purged, cleansed and refined, but the, wicked will act wickedly and none of the wicked will understand, but those who have insight will understand”. By all appearances, when reflected upon in the light and context of scriptures, we may very well have entered a time of intensification and an overlapping of the first four “birth pain” tribulation seals (see Matthew 24:3-9), and are experiencing all except the revealing of the man of lawlessness (the antichrist) of the fifth tribulation seal (see 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4). This will, in turn, lead to the onset of The Great Tribulation and the breaking of the Sixth Seal (see Matthew 24:29-31) followed by the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord and the Wrath of the Lamb Trumpet and Bowl Judgments which lead to the Final Days and the End of The Age.
As we read and trace the progression of the establishment of the Church, we will find God’s method, purpose and plans, and by the will of God and the Light of His Spirit, we, the remnant, will endure to the end. Never shrinking back or compromising; we will overcome because of the Blood of The Lamb and because of the word of our testimony – we will not love our life more, just like the Apostles, even when faced with death.
Your Brother and Friend
Mike Young
PREVIOUS: THE BOOK OF ACTS – Chapter 13, part 2, Paul Turns to the Gentiles.
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